3l6 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY 



and that is only for short intervals, for he soon relapses 

 into a torpid state, and dies without manifesting pain. 

 The remedy to be tried is the following : — Give ten 

 grains of the farina of the croton-nut whenever it is 

 known the horse has eaten yew-leaves ; then a drink 

 of half-a-pint of vinegar, mixed with a pint of gruel. 

 Repeat the croton every six hours until it operates. 



OF DRINK. 



Nothing is of greater importance than the quantity 

 of water which is given to a horse as drink. Accus- 

 tomed for the most part to dry food, water is indispens- 

 able to nourishment and health. Its quality, too, is of 

 vast importance. Mr Lawrence, in his treatise entitled 

 '* The Horse," makes the following remarks, which 

 convey all we can say upon this point — 



'* It has frequently been observed, and not easily 

 accounted for, that horses do not thrive on changing 

 from one part of the country to another, although their 

 treatment in every respect be the same, difference of 

 water excepted. This perhaps may, in a great measure, 

 be owing to the quality of the water they drink, and 

 which may be possessed of different chemical properties 

 from that to which they had before been accustomed. 



'' This is particularly observed in those places 

 where the stable-yards are supplied from pit-wells, 

 some of which are very deep, and the water very hard, 

 which occasions that chilliness, trembling, and shaking 

 which is frequently observed in horses when they drink 

 it immediately after it is new pumped, and which causes 

 their coats to stare and stand on end for a considerable 

 time, and sometimes they are griped, and much out 

 of order. Spring-water is liable to partake of all the 

 metallic or mineral properties of the strata through 

 which it passes ; hence it becomes noxious or salutary 



